Emergency room at Fresno’s largest hospital sees drop in patients. Doctors think they know why
During a Fresno County virtual town hall-style meeting on Friday, doctors said patients who are not infected by the coronavirus should not be afraid to seek medical attention in the emergency room.
Emergency room visits are down by about a third this month at Community Regional Medical Center locations, according to Dr. James Comes, the chief of emergency medicine at CRMC.
“We are very worried that these patients with serious ailments are not seeking care. (Those) with urgent complaints,” he said on Friday. “They’ve decided to wait it out at home.”
“We can assure you that if you do not have COVID, and you come to our hospital, we are not going to give it to you,” he said.
Hospitals are equipped to screen anyone who wants to the enter the building to keep those infected separated from those who aren’t, health officials said.
Dr. Elieth Martinez of UCSF Fresno said she’s seen patients come in who have not been refilling their medication over similar fears.
“It is safe to come into the hospital if folks need emergency care,” she said.
